Electrical attachment fitting



arch 8, 138. A BROWNSTEm 2,110,197

ELECTRICAL ATTACHMENT FITTING Filed Jan. 18, 1934 77 /Z 76 30IN V EN TOR7 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 limi? ELECTRICAL ATTACHMENT FITTING Application January 18,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical attachment fittings. It is particularly directed to a socket connector for electrical appliances.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described consisting of a two part housing and having highly improved means for attaching the housing parts together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for attaching the current carrying portions to the housing, the construction being such that all of the current carrying portions are mounted on one of the housing parts only.

Another object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and rugged device of the character described, comprising comparatively few and simple parts, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and withal practical and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative em- 30 bodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is an elevational view of a device embodying the invention with one of the housing parts removed;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the current carrying portions, with the parts thereof separated;

Fig. 6 is a partial, elevational view of one end of the improved device, illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. -7 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 'l-'l of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a partial, bottom plan View of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a -socket connector embodying the invention, here shown to comprise a pair of mating housing parts or sections li and l2, made of any suitable insulating material and having meeting faces Ha. and I2a. All of the current carrying 1934, Serial No. 707,064

portions and the switch I4 are mounted on the housing part I I.

The face I Ia of the housing section I I is formed with a pair of parallel pockets I6 and I'l separated by a Wall I8. The end wall I9 of said section is formed with a pair of notches 2B and 2l communicating with the pockets I6 and I'I, respectively. Said section II is further formed with a transverse Wall I9l1r having grooves 20a and 2 Ia, likewise communicating with the pockets I3 and l?, respectively, and forming depressed surfaces having narrow, perpendicular slots 68 and 86, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The transverse wall I9a is provided with a cut away portion 22 in the upper edge thereof communicating with the groove 23a.

In the upper portion of the housing section Il is formed an enlarged chamber or depression 22a. Extending upwardly from the bottom surface of the depression 22a is a tubular portion 23 located on the mid-section of the housing part II and formed with a through opening 24. There also extends upwardly from the bottom surface of said chamber 22a a shallow boss 26 having a cylindrical opening 2l. Said boss 26 is located substantially in alignment with and above the groove 2 la. An elongated groove 28, is provided in an edge of one side wall of the chamber 22al for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Adjacent the upper end of and on opposite sides of the section II are formed depressed surfaces 29 and 30 having transverse narrow slots 15a. Said housing section is also formed with a semicircular neck 3| provided with a semi-circular groove 32.

The bottom end of the wall I8 and the bottom wall I9 is formed with an L-shaped notch 33 eX- tending to the rear surface 34 of the housing part I l, thus forming an edge 41.

The other insulating housing section I2 is substantially similar in appearance to the part II but differs therefrom in several respects, as will appear hereinafter. Said section IZ is hollowed out or chambered, to form abottom wall 35 and side walls 36 and 3l. Said section is also formed with a lower end wall 38 aligned with the wall I9 and likewise formed with notches registering with the notches 20 and 2| of the section I I and forming therewith openings for receiving a pair of parallel prongs on the electrical appliance.

Extending from the bottom wall 35 is a rib 4B substantially similar to the rib I8 and contacting the same. There also extends from the bottom Wall 35 a tubular portion similar to the tubular portion 23 and forming therewith a through opening for receiving an attaching bolt 4l. The edge of sid-e wall 3l of the housing part l 2 is provided with a groove similar to groove 28 and forming therewith a slot for a switch lever 44, described in detail hereinafter. Said section i2 is also formed with a semi-circular neck portion 5l having a groove 52 and forming with the complementary neck portion of the section ll, an opening for receiving a duplex cable and a flexible guard therefor.

From the rib il@ extends a hook-shaped-portion received within the L.-sh.aped slot 39 of the housing part l i, having an end 45a and engaging the edge 4l. Thus the housing parts may be secured together by means of a single attachment bolt il and the hook engagement between the hook 45 and the edge portion 4l. In assembling the housing parts, the hook 45 is first engaged with said edge portion 4l and the housing parts then swung or brought together and the bolt inserted through the tubular portions 23 and screwed tight.

As stated above, the current carrying portions of the device l!) and the switch are all mounted on the housing part ll to facilitate manufacture and assembly. Thus the current carrying portions and the switch may first be mounted on the one housing section l l and then the other housing section l2 applied thereto to complete the device. To this end, there is provided a prong receiving member 59 received within the pocket l5 and within the chamber formed in section l2, and made of three parts 5l, 52 and 53, shown in detail in Fig. 5. The portion 5I is formed with a spring element 54 having a flat portion 55 formed With a slot 55. The member 52 is likewise formed with a spring element 5l, similar to the spring element 54 and symmetrically disposed with respect thereto. Extending upwardly from the spring element 5'! is a flat portion 58 formed with a transverse tab 59 cut therefrom. The tab 59 is formed with a plurality of rearwardly extending prongs cut from the edges thereof and bent out of the plane of said tab. The third member 53 is formed with a flat portion 6l having a slot 52 similar'to the slot 55. Extending from the portion 6l at right angles thereto, is an arm 54 from which extends upwardly a second arm 85 parallel to the portion 6l and having an inclined spring end 88. The member shown in Fig. 5 is assembled by passing the tab 59 through the slot 62 and then through the slot 56. The portions 55 and 58 thus contact opposite surfaces of the portion 5l. The portions 58, 5l and 55 are received within the groove 28a and the tab 59 is forced into the slot 58 formed in the transverse wall l9a. 1

Upon forcing the tab 59 into the slot 88 th prongs will press against a surface of said slot 55 and prevent the current carrying member 59 from being pulled out. If desired, the portions 55, 58 and 5l maybe soldered to one another after the members 5l, 52 and 53 are assembled. It will be noted that the arm 94 is received within the groove 28a. and the arm 85 projects upwardly from said groove, the bent end 95 being inclined upwardly and outwardly.

There is also attached to the depressed wall 29 a current carrying member lll having an ear 'il contacting said depressed wall and formed with a screw threaded opening l2, fora screw 13, the shank whereof is adapted to be received in an opening formed in said depressed wall 29. Extending from the ear ll, at right angles thereto, is a tab 'l5 similar to the tab 59 and formed with prongs B0, said tab extending into the slot 15a formed in said depressed wall 29 and rmly i'lxing the current carrying member 'lll to said wall. Extending from the ear ll is a downwardly extending portion 15 disposed in a plane at right angles to said ear. The portion l5 projects into the chamber formed in the housing part l2 and extending from the lower end thereof is a portion ll having an upwardly and outwardly extending end portion 18 disposed parallel to the end portion 66 of the member 53. The upper ends of the portions 65 and 'i8 may be flared outwardly somewhat so that a switch member, described hereinafter, may be pressed between said portions for closing the switch. f

There is further mounted on the housing part ll a second prong receiving member comprising a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed members having spring elements similar to the spring elements 54 and 51 for receiving the prong therebetween. The upper ends of the members 89 are formed with flat, mutually contacting portions 8l provided with registering slots 82. The flat contacting portions 8l are received within the groove 2 la and contact the transverse wall |9a.

A strip 84 having a tab 85 atfthe bottom end thereof extends through the slots 82 in the contacting portions 8| and is received in the slot 86, formed in the transverse wall l9a. The strip 85 is disposed parallel and adjacent to the wall 35 of the housing part I2 and is formed with a circular opening 8l aligned with the opening 21 in the boss 26 of the housing part Il. At the upper end of the strip 84 is provided an ear 88 contacting the depressed wall 39 and likewise provided with a screw threaded opening for receiving a binding screw v89 and being formed with a tab similar to the tab l5 received within the slot 15a in said depressed wall.

Rotatably mounted between the strip 84 and the housing part Il is the switch lever 44 having outwardly extending, aligned pintles 90 and 9| journaled in the openings Si and 21, respectively. The switch lever 4d projects through the registering slots 28 in the housing parts l l and I2. The lever M is provided with a radial handle 44a on one side of the axis thereof and with an opening 92 on the opposite side of the axis. Hinged on said lever is a metal switch member 93 preferably made of a single piece of wire and having parallel portions 94 from which extend inwardly pintles 95 received within the opposite ends of the opening 92. The portions 94 are interconnected by an inwardly bent portion 91 forming a hump. The outer end of the lever 44 is reduced, as at 98, and formed with an opening 99. A coil compression spring IDD engages at one end thereof, within the opening 99 and receives the-inwardly humped portion 91 of the member 93 in the opposite end thereof.

It will be noted that the opening 92 is oiT-set from a line passing through the opening 99, the axis of the lever and the handle 44a.

The operation of the switch will now be understood. In the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the switch is open, the spring |00 pressing the member 93 upwardly into contact with a stop portion lill formed on the housing part ll. Should the lever handle 44a be pressed downwardly, however, the lever will swing in a clockwise direction, causing the spring |00 to be compressed. W'hen the inner end of the spring |98 passes to the opposite side of the member 93, the spring will snap the member 93 in a counterclockwise direction, into contact with the spring ends B6, i8.

A- duplex conductor cord may extend into the device IE), through the neck thereof, so that one wire thereof may be attached to the binding screw 13 andthe other wire thereof attached to the binding screw 89. When the switch is closed, the current will pass through the current carrying member i), through the switch member 93 and through the current carrying member 10, to the binding screw 13. The current will also pass through the current carrying members 80, through the strip 84, to the other binding screw 89. The oifset of opening 93 prevents the switch from sticking at dead center. The offset is thus in the lever Bd.

The housing parts are preferably molded. For this purpose section i2 may be formed with a slot I I0 aligned with the end 45a of the hook portion 45, the slot HB being formed by a member inserted within the mold to permit molding of the member 65 with the housing part I2.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 is shown a modified construction comprising housing parts IIb and 12b, but instead of a central hooked portion 45 and slot 33, the housing part |213 is formed with a pair of hooks H2 received within openings H3 formed in the housing part lla. The hooked portions H2 may be located on opposite sides of the housing.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electric attachment fitting comprising a pair of mating housing parts made of molded insulating material, one of said housing parts having an integral, molded hook portion adjacent one end and engaging said other housing part at an adjacent end, and fastening means adjacent the other ends of said parts for attaching said housing parts together.

2. An electrical attachment fitting comprising a pair of mating housing parts made of molded insulating material, current carrying portions disposed within said housing parts, one of said housing parts having a hook portion fixed with respect to said housing part engaging a portion of the other housing, said housing parts being provided with aligned through openings, and a fastening member extending through said openings for attaching said housing parts together.

3. An electrical attachment fitting comprising a pair of molded chambered mating housing parts, current carrying portions received between said parts, one of said parts having an integral projecting hook portion molded therewith, and the other of said housing parts being formed with a slot for receiving said hook portion, and having an integral, molded edge p0rtion adjacent said slot engaging said hook portion.

4. An electrical attachment fitting comprising a pair of molded chambered mating housing parts, current carrying portions received between said parts, one of said parts having an integral-projecting hook portion molded therewith, and the other of said housing parts being formed with a slot for receiving said hook portion and having an integral, molded edge portion adjacent said slot engaging said hook portion, and fastening means for attaching said housing parts together.

5. An electric attachment fitting of the character described comprising a pair of mating housing parts, means for attaching said housing parts together, said housing parts being provided with prong receiving openings at one end, and pockets adjacent said openings, spring contacts within said pockets for engagement with the prongs inserted into said openings, a pair of binding screws within said housing, a metallic strip attached to one of said binding screws and having a spring end, and a member attached to one of said spring contacts and having a spring end spaced from and parallel to said rst spring end, an elongated strip interconnecting the other binding screw with the other spring contact, a switch lever journaled for swinging movement on one of the housing parts and on said elongated strip, a member pivoted on said lever and adapted to move between said spring ends, and a spring interposed between said lever and the outer end of said rst pivoted member.

6. An electric attachment tting comprising an insulating housing, a current carrying portion therein, said housing having a surface and `a slot in said surface, said current carrying portion having a tab extending into said slot, said tab having a pair of rearwardly extending prongs cut from the edges thereof to x said current carrying portion to said housing.

'7. An electric attachment fitting of the character described comprising a housing made of insulating material and comprising a pair of mating parts chambered to form a pocket and having an opening for receiving a prong of an electric appliance, a member within said housing for receiving said prong, comprising a pair of spring elements, a pair of at portions extending from said spring elements, at least one of said flat portions being provided with a slot and contacting a surface of one of said housing parts, said surface having a slot perpendicular to said surface and registering with the slot in said one of said at portions, and a tab extending through said slot in said flat portion and said slot in said surface.

8. An electric attachment fitting of the character described comprising a housing made of insulating material and comprising a pair of mating parts chambered to form a pocket and having an opening for receiving a prong of an electric appliance, a member within said housing for receiving said prong, comprising a pair of spring elements having extensions, at least one of said lextensions having a slot and contacting a surface of one of said housing parts, said surface being provided with a slot perpendicular to said surface and registering with the slot in said one of said extensions, and a tab extending through said slot in said extension and said slot in said surface.

9. An electric attachment fitting of the character described comprising a housing made of insulating material and comprising a pair of mating parts chambered to form a pocket and having an opening for receiving a prong of an electric appliance, a member within said housing for receiving said prong, comprising a pair of spring elements having extensions, at least one of said extensions being formed with a slot and contacting a surface of one of said housing parts, said surface being provided with a slot perpendicular to said surface and registering with the slot in said one of said extensions, and a tab extending through said slot in said extension and said slot in said surface, said tab having rearwardly extending prongs cut from the edges thereof.

l0. An electric attachment socket comprising a housing made of insulating material having a surface formed with a slot, a pair of spring elements having fiat portions extending therefrom, one of said flat portions having a slot registering with the slot in said surface,k and contacting said surface,l and the other of said iiat portions being provided with a tab cut therefrom and bent at an angle thereto and extending through the slot in the other iiat portion and into said slot in saidy surface.

11. An electric attachment socket comprising a housing made of insulating material having a f surface provided withv a slot, a pair of spring elements having flat portions extending therefrom, one of said flat portions having a slot registering with the slot in said surface, and the other of said iiat portions being provided with a tab cut therefrom and bent at an angle thereto and extending through the slot in the other iiat portion and into said slot in said surface, said tab having a rearwardly extending prong cut from an edge thereof to hold said tab within said slot in said surface.

l2. An electric attachment iitting comprising a pair of mating housing parts, means for attaching said housing parts together, said housing being provided with prong receiving openings at one end, and pockets adjacent said openings, contacts within said pockets for engagement with the prongs inserted into said openings, a pair of binding screws within rsaid housing, a metallic strip vattached to one of said binding screws and having a spring end, and a member attached to one of said contacts, and having a spring end spaced from and parallel to said rst spring end, an elongated strip interconnecting the other binding screw with the other contact, a switch lever mounted between the housing parts, a member pivoted at the inner end thereof on said lever andadapted to move between said spring ends, a coil tension spring mounted at the inner end thereof on said lever and contacting the outer end of said pivoted member, the pivotal point of said member being offset from a line interconnecting the axis of rotation of said lever and the point of connection of the inner end of said spring to said lever.

13. An electric attachment fitting comprising a pair of mating housing parts, means for attaching said housing parts together, said housing being provided with prong receiving openings at one end, contacts adjacent said openings for engagement with prongs inserted into said openings, and a switch mounted within said openings comprising a switch lever mounted between the housing parts, a member pivoted at the inner end thereof on said lever, a coil tension spring attached at the inner end thereof to said lever and contacting at the outer end thereof, the outer end of said rpivoted member, the pivotal point of said member being offset from a line interconnecting the axis of rotation of said lever and the point of connection of the inner end of said spring to said lever.

ARTHUR BROWNSTEIN. 

